Subway said its Footlong Cookie has sold particularly well. | Photo by Jonathan Maze.
Footlong snacks apparently resonate with consumers.
That, at least, is based on sales of Subway’s new “Sidekicks,” which include a Cinnabon Footlong Churro and an Auntie Anne’s Footlong Pretzel along with its own Footlong Cookie. The Miami-based Subway said on Thursday that it has sold more than 3.5 million Sidekicks in the two weeks since its launch and that it is “rushing additional supply to meet guest” demand.
The footlong cookie in particular has been popular with customers, Subway said.
The company introduced its Sidekicks in mid-January, hoping that the footlong version of a churro, pretzel and its cookie would generate add-on sales to its existing sandwiches and convince customers to visit in the afternoon for a snack. It has been working on the snacks for well over a year.
It’s part of a broad set of menu changes and improvements designed to build sales for the chain, which operates 37,000 locations globally and about 20,000 in the U.S.
Subway said on Thursday that its same-store sales increased 5.9% in North America last year. It also said that its top 75% of restaurants in North America, about 17,000 locations, generated 10.1% same-store sales growth, though that implies that about 5,700 restaurants saw steep declines in the key sales metric last year.
The company did say that its global same-store sales have increased for 12 straight quarters. Subway also said that it finished with positive unit growth globally last year for the first time since 2016. The company did not provide exact figures, but that growth likely came from international restaurants that have returned to unit expansion over the past two years thanks to a series of development agreements.
“Sidekicks are a big hit with guests and the latest proof that Subway is a remarkably different brand than it was when we began our transformation journey three years ago,” CEO John Chidsey said in a statement.
Both Cinnabon and Auntie Anne’s are part of Focus Brands, the Atlanta-based operator owned by Roark Capital, the private equity group trying to buy Subway. But the company has said it began working with those brands before it put itself up for sale early last year and said the snack line and the acquisition are not connected.
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Restaurant Business Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Maze is a longtime industry journalist who writes about restaurant finance, mergers and acquisitions and the economy, with a particular focus on quick-service restaurants.
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FAQs
Subway reported selling more than 3.5 million in the first two weeks and 30 million Sidekicks in total since January. The hot and cheesy Footlong Dippers expand the snack platform into the savory side. Fabre didn't have to add any new SKUs to bring the new items to market.
How much are the new Subway sidekicks? ›
"Our guests devoured nearly 30 million Sidekicks since their debut in January and they will find all 33 flavor combinations of Dippers for $3* to be equally irresistible."
What are the sidekicks at Subway? ›
For only $3, diners can enjoy the brand-new menu item, which will be available in three varieties: Pepperoni & Cheese, Chicken & Cheese and Double Cheese. These new Sidekicks are served hot, wrapped in the lavash-style flatbreads with the meats and melted cheeses swirling together.
What are the new footlong items at Subway? ›
Footlong Dippers offer the perfect swirl of cheese and meat, tightly rolled in Subway's soft and bubbly lavash-style bread, in three varieties — Pepperoni & Cheese, Chicken & Cheese and Double Cheese.
Are $5 footlongs still a thing? ›
Long gone are the days when you could walk into Subway and buy a footlong for $5. Five years ago, the company removed the iconic promotion for a variety of reasons, such as growing food costs and struggling profits. A man discovered how the Subway foot long was no longer a menu item, shocked by how much it now costs.
What are the 12 new Subway subs? ›
Subway Launches 12 New Sandwiches
- Cheesesteaks: No. 1 The Philly, No. 2 The Outlaw, No. 3 The Monster.
- Italianos: No. 4 Supreme Meats, No. 5 Bella Mozza, No. 6 The Boss.
- Chicken: No. 7 The MexiCali, No. 8 The Great Garlic, No. 9 The Champ.
- Clubs: No. 10 All-American Club, No. 11 Subway Club, No. 12 Turkey Cali Club.
“The full Footlong Sidekicks range will be available in our restaurants nationwide from 5th June, including the highly anticipated Footlong Cookie, Footlong Cinnabon® Churro and a brand-new Footlong Dipper – packed with a choice of three fillings, loaded with cheese and perfect for dipping in any of our signature ...
Why are they called sidekicks? ›
It is believed to have originated in pickpocket slang of the late 19th century. The "kick" was the front pocket of a pair of trousers, believed to be the pocket safest from theft. Thus, by analogy, a "side-kick" was a person's closest companion.
When did Subway Sidekicks come out? ›
On Jan. 22, Subway released its “Sidekicks,” a footlong churro, pretzel and cookie combination offering. People on social media went crazy over the Sidekicks, so we set out to see what the hype was all about.
What items did Subway discontinue? ›
In 2020, Subway made the unpopular decision to stop selling both roast beef and rotisserie chicken, reportedly because they were the two most expensive meat toppings on their menu. The menu cuts were a big flop, though, with angry franchisees and customers flooding Subway with complaints.
2024 may be the most exciting chapter yet in our growth story." Subway's new menu revamp comes after it debuted “freshly sliced meats” in its U.S. restaurants in July last year, where it introduced four new deli-style sandwiches which include: Titan Turkey, Grand Slam Ham, Garlic Roast Beef and The Beast.
What is a footlong dipper? ›
On Tuesday, the fast food sandwich chain announced the debut of Footlong Dippers -- a hot, cheesy rolled snack made from the new lavash-style flatbread -- joining the Sidekicks menu for $3. The new Footlong Dippers come in three flavors: pepperoni and cheese, chicken and cheese, and double cheese.
Are Subway footlongs really 12 inches? ›
Discovery revealed that the vast majority of Subway footlong sandwiches were, in fact, 12-inches in length. But due to perfectly natural and unavoidable vagaries in the baking process, a very small fraction of sandwiches fell about a quarter-inch shy of 12 inches.
What is the code for Subway $5.99 footlong? ›
Use promo code 599FOOTLONG in the app or online and get exactly that - any Footlong for $5.99.
Are Subway footlongs healthy? ›
Up your order to the footlong size and you'll see several stats more than double with 910 calories, 41g fat, 13g saturated fat, 0.5g trans fat, 89g carbohydrate, 7g sugar, 40g protein, and 2,380mg sodium.
What is the Subway $2 reward? ›
Every 400 points you earn is redeemable for $2 in Subway® Cash. To redeem Subway® Cash through the Subway® app or website simply log into your account before ordering.
Is the footlong churro good? ›
The churro is crispy, almost teetering on overdone, but is soft enough at its core to not be considered stale. There's an audible crunch in each bite of the churro despite it being baked and not fried as churros normally are. For $2, this sidekick could stand its ground next to the big heroes.
Does Subway own Auntie Anne's? ›
Both Cinnabon and Auntie Anne's are part of Focus Brands, the Atlanta-based operator owned by Roark Capital, the private equity group trying to buy Subway.
